Angie Dubose an RN talks to Brandy Lewis after giving Lewis a hepatitis A vaccine at the Tuscaloosa County Health Department on March 28 2012. Lewis was a customer of the Northport McDonald's. The Alabama Department of Public Health notified the public in March 2012 that a McDonald's employee may have exposed customers to the disease. People were urged to receive a vaccine and immune globulin to prevent infection. Now customers who may have been exposed to hepatitis A after eating at the Northport restaurant could receive up to $125 as part of a proposed $85000 class action settlement.

File | Michelle Lepianka Carter | The Tuscaloosa N

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 4:25 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 4:25 p.m.

McDonald’s customers who may have been exposed to hepatitis A after eating at the Northport restaurant last year have until September to apply for compensation from a class-action settlement.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs and RPH Management, doing business as the McDonald’s at 2000 McFarland Blvd., asked for extra time to notify people who are eligible to receive a $125 payout from the company.

The Alabama Department of Public Health notified the public in March 2012 that a McDonald’s employee may have exposed customers to hepatitis A. People were urged to receive a vaccine and immune globulin to prevent infection. Customers who ate at the restaurant on McFarland Boulevard in Northport on March 14, 2012, or during breakfast hours on March 16 are eligible to receive a portion of a proposed $85,000 settlement. Only people with documentation that they received a shot can receive a portion of the settlement.

Forty-seven people filed claims to receive part of the settlement by the original June deadline, so attorneys agreed to extend the eligibility period until Sept. 24.

Attorneys for each side are working with a claims administrator to provide additional notice to potential class members. They are considering using data from the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, where most people received shots.

Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Jim Roberts granted the extension of eligibility period this week. He will hold a final hearing and consider granting final approval for the settlement at a hearing scheduled in October.

The proposed $125 settlement per customer is intended as compensation for the cost of the vaccine, lost time and anxiety and concern caused by potential exposure. Only customers who provide proof that they were vaccinated qualify to receive the settlement.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can range in severity from a mild illness that lasts a few weeks to a severe illness that lasts months, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, light stools and jaundice.

Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, from contact with food, drink or objects contaminated by feces from an infected person. Contamination of food can happen at any point, while it’s growing, being harvested, processed, being prepared or being cooked.

The Department of Public Health did not report that anyone contracted the disease after being exposed. It is unclear how many people have qualified to receive compensation.

According to the proposed settlement, each person will receive an equal share of the $85,000 if more than 980 claims are submitted. Any part of the $85,000 not paid to claimants will be returned to company RPH Management Inc., which owns the McDonald’s. The settlement proposes that the plaintiffs’ attorney receive $15,000 compensation and that he anonymously donate an additional $10,000 to a charity. William D. Marler of the Seattle, Wash. firm Marler Clark, who has extensive experience with food-borne illness litigation, is representing the plaintiffs.

<p>McDonald's customers who may have been exposed to hepatitis A after eating at the Northport restaurant last year have until September to apply for compensation from a class-action settlement.</p><p>Attorneys for the plaintiffs and RPH Management, doing business as the McDonald's at 2000 McFarland Blvd., asked for extra time to notify people who are eligible to receive a $125 payout from the company.</p><p>The Alabama Department of Public Health notified the public in March 2012 that a McDonald's employee may have exposed customers to hepatitis A. People were urged to receive a vaccine and immune globulin to prevent infection. Customers who ate at the restaurant on McFarland Boulevard in Northport on March 14, 2012, or during breakfast hours on March 16 are eligible to receive a portion of a proposed $85,000 settlement. Only people with documentation that they received a shot can receive a portion of the settlement.</p><p>Forty-seven people filed claims to receive part of the settlement by the original June deadline, so attorneys agreed to extend the eligibility period until Sept. 24.</p><p>Attorneys for each side are working with a claims administrator to provide additional notice to potential class members. They are considering using data from the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, where most people received shots. </p><p>Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Jim Roberts granted the extension of eligibility period this week. He will hold a final hearing and consider granting final approval for the settlement at a hearing scheduled in October.</p><p>The proposed $125 settlement per customer is intended as compensation for the cost of the vaccine, lost time and anxiety and concern caused by potential exposure. Only customers who provide proof that they were vaccinated qualify to receive the settlement.</p><p>Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that can range in severity from a mild illness that lasts a few weeks to a severe illness that lasts months, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, pain in the upper right side of the abdomen, dark urine, light stools and jaundice.</p><p>Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, from contact with food, drink or objects contaminated by feces from an infected person. Contamination of food can happen at any point, while it's growing, being harvested, processed, being prepared or being cooked.</p><p>The Department of Public Health did not report that anyone contracted the disease after being exposed. It is unclear how many people have qualified to receive compensation.</p><p>According to the proposed settlement, each person will receive an equal share of the $85,000 if more than 980 claims are submitted. Any part of the $85,000 not paid to claimants will be returned to company RPH Management Inc., which owns the McDonald's. The settlement proposes that the plaintiffs' attorney receive $15,000 compensation and that he anonymously donate an additional $10,000 to a charity. William D. Marler of the Seattle, Wash. firm Marler Clark, who has extensive experience with food-borne illness litigation, is representing the plaintiffs.</p><p>For information about the settlement, visit www.northport-hepa.com.</p>